Special Mom’s blog

We returned back from Maryland this evening. The weekend was hot over there and we had thunderstorms all the way back. It was cool back home.

Compared to all the trips we have taken the past few months this has been our shortest trip with regard to distance.

Our picnic bags and suitcases are begging us to take a break. As of now no plans next weekend. They will be getting their much needed rest.

My special boy exceeded his expectations and cooperated through out the trip. Compared to other trips this was not fun in anyway. We were going to meet our Guru and get His blessings. I would say these are testing moments for me as not only as his Mother but as a therapist who had worked with him all these years. I know what would trigger a meltdown or what can make him hyper. I had to be vigilant of so many things. Any trip in the community I make with my boy, I want to have a good ending. I want it to end on a positive note. But when something religious as this turns up, I get emotional and I loose all my balance. I think I understood my weakness and that was the success of this trip. I also have to thank my younger one who did take care of his brother while I had some time for myself.

I wanted my boy to play the bells, during a music session but that did not materialize but he did chant a shloka(learnt from his music teacher) in front of our Guru and got not only His blessings but a KitKat too. I had many people come by me and say how quiet my boy was. He was there sitting and doing his 250 piece puzzle on his iPad. He was able to sit for nearly hour and thirty minutes for the bhajans(devotional music session) and he did not have any electronic instruments ,just his hands to clap.

Add to all the above, we stationed ourselves near the Annadanam tent. Basically, the food tent. Food has always been his reward and this one was huge with caterers dropping food for nearly 500 people was something big for him. The only issue was he had to wait for lunch until it opened at 12.30 pm. But he had a free hand at breakfast since they had so much left overs.

We also had the opportunity to visit another Temple in the area. They do have a great canteen and food is awesome. They have limited variety but the taste was superb. Temple food is usually prepared onion and garlic free and is much cheaper than restaurant food. The oil and spices are controlled and they are much more healthy.

Five years back, when my son graduated from school, he was given Community Waiver Funding to be out in the community. At that time I did not understand the value behind it. (Covid19 came and put a halt to our social activities). Having come out of the pandemic and traveling I have understood how much his exposure to community has helped us.

All said and done I had a wonderful time. I got the much needed spiritual time and also got a new saree that was sold there for fundraising. So I think the trip was a success 😊.